We all have our vices. There are the classics — drugs, alcohol, sex, food — and the modern dependencies of screens, social media, plastic surgery and overly-priced iced lattes. My weakness is Depop, a London-based second-hand e-commerce platform.
I’ve spent months on the mobile app, crafting my perfectly curated feed of vintage sweaters, kitten heels and cross-body purses. It’s like a Pinterest board, but instead of being flooded with obscure images of suspiciously trendy outfits and improbably beautiful women, the algorithm serves up exactly what I’m looking for, with a genuine ‘Buy’ button and a contactable seller.
When I first downloaded Depop, I focused on hunting specific items — Dr. Martens 1461 Patent Leather Oxford shoes, Ralph Lauren Polo-Bear Sweater — but was often disappointed with the results, due to the size options, quality or prices. Through my pursuits, however, my homepage began to mimic my searches. I began discovering items that fit my desires (and my feet) without having to do anything but scroll.
I was hooked. I forgot about Instagram, neglecting my friend’s vacation posts and shared memes, and challenged myself to find what I considered to be Depop gems. On June 17, 2021, I completed my first purchase: a pair of Steve Madden sneakers with a chunky platform sole and blue, red and gray panel details. They were in decent condition and only $35. Looking back, I probably wouldn’t buy them today, but at the time I felt proud. I had digitally thrifted a cool pair of shoes, and who knew what I would find next.
It would be impossible to talk about Depop without sharing a story so near and dear to my heart. If you know it, feel free to sing along. I call it: The Tale of the Tall Tan Boots.
Once upon a time, I was in the market for a new purse. While I hate to speak ill of my cherished black no-name cross-body (you know the one), I was feeling bored, craving new arm candy.
I came across a Dr. Martens maroon mini messenger bag. How journalist, how chic. The seller was offering a bundle, two purses for $85, so I snagged a darling green and brown shoulder bag as well. And then I waited.
About a week later, a package arrived at my door. It was larger than I expected, but it is not uncommon for Depop sellers to use whatever parcels they have lying around to ship items (to avoid having to buy an envelope or box at the post office). I picked it up. Much heavier than I expected. Something was most definitely up.
I double checked the address. Julia Gordon, mhm, mhm. Now I was intrigued.
When I tore open the packaging, I audibly gasped. Not only did I see my purses, but a gorgeous pair of tan leather boots with Goldilocks heels, not to thin and not too thick, not too tall and not too short. Clearly, the seller had made a mistake. These boots were meant for someone else, yet somehow they had found their way to me.
They fit perfectly, and for a girl who is 5’’5 with size 5.5 feet, this was a rare occasion. I’ve never been someone who could share shoes with my friends and sometimes they don’t even carry my size in stores.
I had a moral dilemma on my hands. Should I return them to the seller? Offer to send them to the person who bought them? Keep them for myself and say nothing?
I decided to message the girl who sold them to me, explaining that while I did not order them, I would be happy to pay for them… or return them if you reaaaalllyyyy want me to.
There’s no mechanism for returning items on Depop. Your options are as follows: a) hope the seller is nice enough to Venmo you back, b) Repop the item and hope someone else buys it, or c) suck it up babe.
Because of this built-in no-return policy, the seller, a trendy NYU student, my angel sent from heaven, let me keep the boots for a heavily discounted price. Thus, I was officially the owner of a perfect pair of shoes and a believer in the Depop gods.
Now that I have racked up three years of experience on the app, both as a buyer and a seller, I am a self-proclaimed expert. I am confident that I can find anything one might want amidst the endless squares of clothing and accessories patiently waiting to be adopted. And it is only fair that I share my expertise.
Here is how I navigate Depop to find the hidden gems.
Personalizing your homepage
I find it helpful to treat Depop like a mood board because, while the end goal is to find specific items to purchase, interacting with listings that match your aesthetic, regardless of size or quality, will tell the algorithm what you’re looking for.
And from my experience, it is suspiciously accurate. Scrolling through my ‘suggested for you’ page eerily resembles my Pinterest feed, though less visually pleasing. Depop knows what I want before I do.
To begin personalizing your homepage, I recommend searching for brands and aesthetics that interest you. Additionally, at the bottom of the homepage is a section called ‘The Depop Edit’ which features staff-selected listings. This is a great way to explore what is trending on the app and to interact with styles you like.
Bargaining best practices
Bargain, bargain, bargain.
Like eBay, one of the first resale platforms, Depop has an offer feature. Shoppers can leave offers on specific items, with the option to bargain either an auto-generated discount or a custom amount. The seller will then have 24 hours to accept or decline the offer. Unlike eBay, an offer is not binding. So really, you’ve got nothing to lose.
Sellers can also send offers directly to shoppers. Unfortunately, the majority of my in-app notifications are not people ‘hearting’ my listings, but people offering me deals on pieces I’ve liked. While this can be annoying, it is also thrilling when you get a special, personalized offer that is totally not being sent out to the 200 other people that hearted the listing!!
And don’t be afraid to go low — more often than not a seller will not decline your offer but will hit you back with something in between your offer and the original price.
Ask questions
One of my favorite things about the app is how interactive it is. Behind every listing is a real person (usually a cool girl) who is there to answer any questions you have.
If you spot something you love but aren’t ready to commit, leave a message for the seller. Ask for more details about the fit or the condition, request additional photos, inquire about an item’s past life. It’s your right to have as as much information as possible about what you’re potentially purchasing.
Messaging sellers is also a great way to learn about bundles (when sellers will discount items if you buy multiple at the same time). If you express interest in a listing by reaching out, there’s a great chance a seller will offer you a bundle discount.
Now you might be thinking, how the hell do I sell my unwanted clothes? If I don’t want them, why should anyone else?
While I admittedly have much less experience with selling than buying, I have managed to make a pretty penny off of some items that were rotting in the back of my closet.
Show off your personality
The description section of a listing is a great place to throw any information that a buyer could possibly need. Of course, the description should include logistical things like the size and condition of an item, but it also should include that this shirt has a 90% success rate of DFMOs (dance floor make outs) and that it does wonders for the girls (tits, boobs, etc.). Being authentic in your captions shows buyers that you’re a real and trustworthy person who isn’t going to scam them.
Be your own mannequin
Pose 👏 in 👏 the 👏 clothes 👏.
It’s difficult to gage how something will fit when it’s sprawled out and wrinkled on a bedspread. As a shopper, I constantly gravitate toward listings that feature the clothes on a body.
There’s a reason brands photograph their clothing on models and not hangers.
Cut the bullshit
I’ll keep this one short ‘n sweet.
If it’s Brandy Melville, it isn’t “vintage.”
If it’s Brandy Melville, it shouldn’t be $45.
Good luck out there, soldiers. Make me proud.